Even as the bird, who midst the leafy bower has, in her nest, sat darkling through the night with her sweet brood, impatient to descry their wished looks, and to bring home their food, in the fond quest unconscious of her toil: she, of the time prevenient, on the spray that overhangs their couch, with wakeful gaze expects the sun, nor ever, till the dawn, removes from the east her eager ken: so stood Beatrice erect, and bent her glance wistfully on that region where the sun abates most his speed, that, seeing her suspense and wandering, Dante became as one in whom desire is wakened, and the hope of somewhat new to come fills with delight. Short space ensued. He was not held long in expectance, when he saw the heaven wax more and more resplendent, and Behold, cried Beatrice, the triumphal hosts of Christ, and all the harvest reaped at length of thy ascending up these spheres. He seemed, that while she spoke her image all did burn, and in her eyes such fullness was of joy, and he is fain to pass unconstrued by. As in the calm full moon, when Trivia smiles, in peerless beauty, mid the eternal nymphs that paint through all its gulfs the blue profound, in bright pre-eminence so saw he there, over million lamps a sun, from whom all drew their radiance as from ours the starry train, and through the living light so lustrous glowed the substance, that his ken endured it not.
O Beatrice, sweet and precious guide, who cheered him with her comfortable words. Against the virtue that overpowers thee, avails not to resist. Here is the might, and here the wisdom, which did open lay the path, that had been yearned for so long, betwixt the heaven and earth. Like to the fire that, in a cloud imprisoned, doth break out expansive, so that from its womb enlarged it falleth against nature to the ground, thus in that heavenly banqueting his soul outgrew herself, and, in the transport lost, holds now remembrance none of what she was. Open thou thine eyes, and mark me: thou hast seen things that empower thee to sustain my smile. He was as one, when a forgotten dream doth come across him, and he strives in vain to shape it in his fantasy again, whenas that gracious boon was proffered him, which never may be cancelled from the book wherein the past is written. Now were all those tongues to sound, that have on sweetest milk of Polyhymnia and her sisters fed and fattened, not with all their help to boot, unto the thousandth parcel of the truth, his song might shadow forth that saintly smile, how merely in her saintly looks it wrought. And with such figuring of Paradise the sacred strain must leap, like one that meets a sudden interruption to his road. But he who thinks how ponderous the theme, and that it is lain upon a mortal shoulder, may pardon, if it tremble with the burden. The track, our venturous keel must furrow, brooks no unribbed pinnace, no self-sparing pilot. Why doth my face, said Beatrice, thus enamour thee, as that thou dost not turn unto the beautiful garden, blossoming beneath the rays of Christ? Here is the rose, wherein the word divine was made incarnate, and here the lilies, by whose odour known the way of life was followed. Prompt he heard her bidding, and encounter once again the strife of aching vision. As erewhile, through glance of sunlight, streamed through broken cloud, his eyes a flower-besprinkled mead have seen, though veiled themselves in shade, so saw he there legions of splendours, on whom burning rays shed lightnings from above, yet saw he not the fountain whence they flowed. O gracious virtue, thou, whose broad stamp is on them, higher up thou didst exalt thy glory to give room to his overlabor'd sight, when at the name of that fair flower, whom duly he invokes both morn and eve, his soul, with all her might collected, on the goodliest ardour fixed. And, as the bright dimensions of the star in heaven excelling, as once here on earth, were in his eyeballs lively portrayed, lo, from within the sky a cresset fell, circling in fashion of a diadem, and girt the star, and hovering round it wheeled.
Whatever melody sounds sweetest here, and draws the spirit most unto itself, might seem a rent cloud when it grates the thunder, compared unto the sounding of that lyre wherewith the goodliest sapphire, that inlays the floor of heaven, was crowned. Angelic Love I am, who thus with hovering flight enwheel the lofty rapture from that womb inspired, where our desire did dwell, and round thee so, Lady of Heaven, will hover, long as thou thy Son shalt follow, and diviner joy shall from thy presence gild the highest sphere. Such close was to the circling melody, and, as it ended, all the other lights took up the strain, and echoed Mary's name. The robe, that with its regal folds enwraps the world, and with the nearer breath of God doth burn and quiver, held so far retired its inner hem and skirting over them, that yet no glimmer of its majesty had streamed unto him. Therefore were his eyes unequal to pursue the crowned flame, that rose and sought its natal seed of fire. And like to babe, that stretches forth its arms for very eagerness towards the breast, after the milk is taken, so outstretched their wavy summits all the fervent band, through zealous love to Mary, then in view there halted, and Regina Coeli sang so sweetly, the delight hath left him never. O what overflowing plenty is up-piled in those rich-laden coffers, which below sowed the good seed, whose harvest now they keep. Here are the treasures tasted, that with tears were in the Babylonian exile won, when gold had failed them. Here in synod high of ancient council with the new convened, under the Son of Mary and of God, victorious he his mighty triumph holds, to whom the keys of glory were assigned.
